.com.au vs .au: Domain Rules and Why You Need an ABN

Australian domains are not open to anyone the way .com is. The namespace is overseen by auDA, and registering usually requires a genuine Australian connection. Here is how .com.au and the newer direct .au compare, and what you need to register.

Why .com.au signals a real Australian business

A .com.au address tells customers you are an established Australian business. To register one you generally need an Australian Business Number or Australian Company Number, which means hobby sites and overseas chancers cannot simply grab the name. That barrier is part of why .com.au carries trust.

Have your ABN or ACN ready before you register, since you will be asked for it.

The newer direct .au

auDA opened direct registrations at the second level, so you can now register a name ending simply in .au, launched in 2022. These also require an Australian presence. If you already hold the matching .com.au, you were given priority to secure the shorter .au version, so check whether you should claim it to stop someone else taking it.

Should you use .au or .com?

For a business serving Australian customers, .com.au or .au builds local trust and helps search engines associate you with Australia. A .com reads as international. If you sell mainly at home, lead with the Australian extension; if you trade globally, a .com may suit better, and many businesses hold both.

Quick guidance

• Serving Australian customers: register .com.au (you will need an ABN or ACN).
• Want the shorter address: check your eligibility for the direct .au.
• Already hold .com.au: consider securing the matching .au to protect your name.
• Trading internationally: add a .com and point it at your main site.